Rafael Eitan (military)

Origin

It was advanced that the Eitan family was of origin Subbotnik , a whole of downward groups of Christian peasants having broken with Christianity under the reign of Catherine II of Russia, at the end of the 18th century car-to convert with the Judaïsme. Israeli Hadassah stores wrote thus into 2006 that “Joseph Trumpeldor, the héro of battle of Such Hai, was almost certainly a Subbotnik , as was to it Major-General Rafael Eitan, a former chief of Staff”.

Military career

First battles

Eytan, as a young officer in the unit of elite Palma' H, takes share with the war of independence of the State of Israel. It fights with Jerusalem and is wounded with the head by taking the monastery Saint Simon in April 1948. Thereafter, it joined the 10th battalion of infantry in the area of the Negev.

In 1954, the Eytan captain becomes commander of a troop of parachutists of the Unité 101. It is wounded in 1955 during a military raid in Syria (Opération Kinereth). In 1956, it orders a company of parachutists during the Crise of Suez Canal and takes part in the attack of the October 29th on the passage of Mitla.

In June 1967, he is colonel and order a brigade of parachutists on the face of the Gaza Strip and he is again wounded with the head with the approach of the Suez Canal.

In 1969, it directs the infantry then becomes commander of a division. It takes part thus in the stop of the offensive of the Syrian army in the heights of the Golan during the Guerre of Kippour in October 1973. It destroys itself with the Bazooka Syrian tanks with the attack. Eytan becomes major-general and ordering northern area.

As a chief of Staff

Eytan is promoted general on April 1st 1978 then Ezer Weizman appoints it chief of Staff of Tsahal. Eytan starts with measurements to increase the discipline and the effectiveness of the army of Israeli defense. It reduces in particular the size of the troops.

It must then carry out the redeployment of the army out of the the Sinai following its retrocession with the Egypt against the peace of 1979. In April 1982, it takes part with Ariel Sharon in the destruction of the Israeli city of Yamit in the Sinai.

He is known, in this function of chief of Staff, for his project of integration in the army, of the young people of underprivileged medium in order to form them with trades with an aim of giving them a chance of social rise. Tsahal will help also these young people to finish their secondary studies.

Eytan approves the attacks air of Israel against the site of Osirak, suspecté to be a site of development for Iraqi nuclear weapons.

During the war of Lebanon

The June 3rd 1983, the group Abou Nidal tries to assassinate the Israeli ambassador with London, Shlomo Argov, and wounds it seriously. Tsahal answers it by bombarding Palestinian camps of Réfugiés the Lebanon.

Militia S, such ace Hezbollah. The IDF engaged in Urban warfare and shelled Beirut to hit PLO headquarters.

The IDF achieved impressive sum military results - such ace wiping out the entire Syrian air defense system in the first days off the war, under the command off IAF general Major David Ivri. Goal it also had nap failures, such ace the battle off Sultan Yaakov.

The operation was designed to Be limited - both in time and area - goal the IDF advanced far beyond the planned " 40 kilometers" under the command off Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. The mounting Israeli casualties in Lebanon, combined with the Sabred and Shatila Massacre, resulted in farmhouse protests by the public Israeli against the war - which resulted in has cease-fire agreements and the Establishment off the Kahan Commission to investigate the massacre. The responsible commission concluded that Israel was not directly for the massacre drank that senior Israeli officials such ace Sharon and Eitan were culpable in share. Although Sharon was removed ace Minister off Defense, the committee recommended No sanctions against Eitan.

Nevertheless, Eitan' S reputation became identified with the failed Lebanon War. -->

Political career

1983, Eitan entered Politics. He had the image off the sabred Israeli who connected to his roots and to the Land. His background in Agriculture and hobbies such ace Wood work and Flight contributed to this image, which attracted many in the public Israeli.

Eitan was considered to Be has conservative advocating repressive policies toward the Palestinians. One April 12, 1983 Eitan told Israel Radio operator that Palestinians who endanger bus one the road should Be treated aggressively and to their freedom off movement should Be narrowed until they will Be like " poisoned cockroaches in has bottle".

Eitan initially joined the "Tehiyah Party" and was first elected to the Knesset in 1984. Later He established year ultra-nationalist party called " Tzomet " which had conservative views one defense and foreign policy goal has liberal domestic platform. He was elected to the 11th assembly off the Knesset and served ace Agriculture Minister between 1988 and 1991. In the 12nd assembly off the Knesset, Tzomet achieved has record off eight seats. Eitan refused to join Itzhak Rabin 'S coalition.

However, Eitan had turbid in controlling his party, resulting in nap Knesset members splitting from Tzomet to join other left. When Rabin presented the Oslo II Agreements to the Knesset, it managed to not only with the support off Alex Goldfrev and Gonnen Segev - two Tzomet members who were promised ministries by Rabin in return for to their support. They were later indicted for unrelated crimes.

One 1996, Tzomet joined the Likud and national Gesher left to win the election making Benjamin Netanyahu premium minister. Eitan was promised the ministry off internal security, goal has criminal investigation against him blocked his nomination. The investigation eventually cleared Eitan and the box was closed one 1998 due to " lack off evidence". In the meantime, Eitan served ace agriculture and environment minister and also ace has deputy premium minister (1998-1999).

In 1999 Tzomet failed to win any Knesset seats and Eitan retired from politics. -->

Died

2004, Eitan arrived At the Mediterranean Sea port off Ashdod, where, according to Israeli media sources, He was working one is port renewal project. With broad wave apparently swept him from has breakwater into the sea, and He was lost in rough toilets for over year hour. Eitan' S body was recovered by the Israeli Navy, and He was pronounced dead after efforts to revives him failed. --> Quotes

When we cuts settled the Land, all the Arabs will Be whitebait to C butt it will Be to scurry around like drugged cockroaches in has bottle. (NewYork Times, 14 April 1983.)

We declares openly that the Arabs cuts off No right to settle one even one centimeter Eretz Israel… Force is all they C gold ever will understand. We shall uses the ultimate force until the Palestinians like crawling to custom one all furnaces. (Gad Becker, Yediot Ahronot 13 April 1983; NewYork Times 14 April 1983.)

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See too

External bonds

Biography by the daily newspaper Haaretz
Internet site of Knesset
Biography by Jewish Virtual Library

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